Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve

It extends along the Elbe river, between Wittenberg in the east, via Dessau-Roßlau, to Gommern in the northwest.

In 1927, conservation areas for the Elbe beaver and the "Wassernuß" plant (Trapa natans) were added.

The Steckby-Lödderitzer Forst was recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1979, and in 1988 it was extended by wide areas around Dessau and Wörlitz.

With the addition of further areas of water meadows, it became the Biosphere Reserve Middle Elbe in 1990.

The Reserve contains the largest interconnected water meadow area of Middle Europe.